Tara Calico: The Unsolved Case & Haunting Polaroid Photo
Can a single, cryptic photograph hold the key to unlocking a decades-old mystery, or does it only deepen the shadows of uncertainty? The haunting story of Tara Calico, a young woman who vanished without a trace in 1988, is a chilling reminder of how easily lives can be lost, and how elusive the truth can become.
On September 20, 1988, the life of Tara Leigh Calico, then just 19 years old, took a tragic turn. Leaving her home on Brugg Street in Belen, New Mexico, around 9:30 a.m. for a bike ride, a seemingly ordinary activity, would be the last time many would see her. At approximately 11:45 a.m., a witness reported seeing her along Highway 47 in Valencia County, a route she frequently travelled. Then, silence.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tara Leigh Calico |
| Date of Birth | February 28, 1969 |
| Age at Disappearance | 19 years old |
| Date of Disappearance | September 20, 1988 |
| Location of Disappearance | Belen, New Mexico |
| Physical Description | Fair skin, brown hair, brown eyes. Described as being 5'2" to 5'3" tall, weighing 110-115 pounds. |
| Last Known Activity | Biking on a route near her home |
| Unsolved Mystery | Disappearance and potential connection to a polaroid photo found in Florida |
| Family | Mother: Patty Doel (deceased); Father: John Doel (deceased); Stepfather: John "Michael" Doel |
| Reference | NamUs - National Missing and Unidentified Persons System |
The investigation into Taras disappearance soon became entangled with a series of bizarre and disturbing developments. Less than a year later, in July 1989, a haunting piece of evidence surfaced a polaroid photograph. Found in the parking lot of a convenience store in Port St. Joe, Florida, nearly 1,600 miles from Belen, the image depicted a young woman and a boy, both seemingly bound and gagged. The woman bore a striking resemblance to Tara Calico.
The unsettling discovery ignited a desperate hope in the hearts of those who loved Tara. Family friends, upon seeing the photograph, immediately recognized similarities and alerted Tara's mother, Patty Doel. The image was subsequently examined by law enforcement, who sought to determine its authenticity and, more importantly, the identity of the individuals within it. The photograph, a jarring anomaly to the usual happy memories captured by such devices, only deepened the mystery and frustrated the investigators.
The photo was analyzed by Scotland Yard in London, at the request of the family, who hoped it was Tara. The lab's findings suggested a positive identification; however, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico reached the opposite conclusion. Their analysis suggested the woman in the picture was not Tara. The conflicting findings, rather than offering clarity, served only to complicate the case further, fostering suspicion and fueling speculation.
Months stretched into years, and the case remained cold. The original investigation had few solid leads, and the polaroid, though a focal point, proved inconclusive. Despite the passage of time, the disappearance of Tara Calico has not been forgotten. The case has captured public attention and sparked the imaginations of many, fueled by the enduring questions surrounding the polaroid photo and the circumstances of her vanishing.
The case took another turn when, on August 23, 1989, Patty Doel and her new husband, John, first became aware of the polaroid photo. They had received a call from relatives who had seen it broadcast on the television tabloid show A Current Affair. This led to increased media coverage and heightened the familys determination to find answers.
The family's determination, however, was met with legal actions against the sheriff, a result of their open rejection of his words and actions. Additionally, Patty Doel and Taras biological father have both since passed away, in 2006 and 2002 respectively; however, Taras stepfather continues to seek the truth.
The location of the photos discovery, a convenience store parking lot in Port St. Joe, Florida, in June 1989, added to the mystery. The discovery came nine months after Tara vanished. A white Toyota cargo van had been parked in the spot prior to the finding of the picture, hinting at possible connections and prompting investigators to explore potential leads.
Adding to the puzzle is the fact that, in June 1989, a polaroid photograph surfaced in a parking lot, offering a glimmer of hope to the Henley family and those who loved Tara Calico. This photo, which was found outside a junior food store in Port St. Joe, Florida, showed a boy and a young woman. The woman bore a resemblance to Tara Calico.
The FBI has offered a $20,000 reward in the case, a testament to the enduring nature of the investigation and the ongoing commitment to finding answers. The girl in the photo certainly looks like Tara Calico, which threw her case into the national spotlight.
The story of Tara Calico is a complex tapestry of conflicting evidence, heartbreaking loss, and unrelenting uncertainty. It's a case that continues to grip the public's attention because, despite the passage of nearly three-and-a-half decades, the fundamental questions remain unanswered: What happened to Tara Calico? Is the woman in the polaroid really her? And will the truth ever come to light?
Authorities recently announced that they have enough evidence to move the case forward, hoping that these recent developments bring much needed closure and lead to the resolution that has eluded them for so long. As years turn into decades, the hope of finding Tara, or at least uncovering the truth, remains. The haunting polaroid, a visual echo of a life interrupted, continues to be a stark reminder of a young woman lost and the enduring search for answers.
